The Tallest Man On Earth's distinctive raspy croon is at it's finest on his new album The Wild Hunt. The Tallest Man On Earth is the solo project of Swedish troubadour Kristian Matsson and his new album The Wild Hunt – his first on Dead Oceans – proves itself to be a superb continuation of an already well received folk career. Matsson's distinctive raspy croon is at it's finest on this album; needing little more than a guitar and the occasional piano, for accompaniment he invests wisely in the simple arrangements. He deftly extends, stretches and tempers his voice according to the weight of his lyrics. For his folkier ballads like "The Drying Of The Lawns" he abandons perfection in favor of letting his voice's natural catch and scratch add appropriate character. When somersaulting over the delicate plucking of his guitar Matsson achieves the perfect contrast of sweet and quirk.

The influence of, and inevitable comparison to, Bob Dylan is undeniable but Matsson does not linger in copy cat territory. Taking a lesson from his fellow creaky voiced predecessor he writes folk songs that pivot on the interplay between word and music. Whether expounding on love gone right or doing some simple reflection his work is best when he relies on the strength of his lyrics and the ease of his melodies. "Kids On The Run" is a prime example; buoyed by gentle piano harmonies his nasally pitch muses sparely on the antics of youth. Without piling on elaborate flairs he captures the essence of longing for those simpler times.

Matsson's passion for his craft is matched by his poetic skill; both are amply demonstrated throughout The WIld Hunt. With such a solid understanding of folk fundamentals I trust he will continue to explore his musical range. He is bringing his guitar to World Cafe Live Upstairs on the 22nd, the perfect venue for his brand of honest music.

This post was written by guest blogger Emma Zumberge. Emma has her own blog, The World in a Paper Cup, a great collection of posts on indie, live and local music.

Thursday, April 22, 2010, 9 p.m.
The Tallest Man On Earth w/ Nurses
World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St, Philadelphia PA, 19104
*SOLD OUT* Get Tickets